Mommy Wolf: Raise A Cub, Claimed By His Beast Daddy-Chapter 25: A New Beast King (I)
The fog in Roc Forest could be disorienting for many of the creatures living inside. This fog would limit their vision, send shivers down their spines, make them commit silly mistakes that could cost their lives, and, worst of all, it would last for an entire day or even a week.
Most animals and beastmen preferred to hide or at least gather in one spot to protect each other until the fog disappeared. But someone like Kael, who had lived alone before he had Jojo, didn’t have the luxury of staying with a pack.
Thus, this fog had become a good friend of his. He could navigate it with ease, and hunting during such thick fog made it even easier for him to catch his prey off guard.
Sometimes, he wished Roc Forest would be covered in eternal fog, the denser, the better. That way, he and Jojo wouldn’t need to worry about their enemies and would also have an easier time hunting.
Kael was still in his beastman form when he bit into a deer’s neck and ate his meal with relish. He had been so hungry ever since he accepted his curse. Sometimes, he would only be satiated after eating at least three bulls in one day.
’Of course you’re hungry. You’ve been crippling yourself by taking care of your son. You don’t get enough nutrients and you’re exhausted. Once you accept me, your body will try to compensate for all the strength you’ve lost over the years.’
Kael tried to ignore the voice inside his head as he continued eating the deer.
That voice had been chattering nonstop like a parrot, repeating depressive words in an attempt to push Kael further into despair.
But he was already drowning in despair without Jojo by his side. The first thing he did once he regained his strength was go down the hill where he had thrown Jojo off and search for him.
He searched every nook and cranny for three days straight without finding any trace of Jojo. So, he thought Jojo might have gone in another direction.
Kael was worried sick about his son’s wellbeing. The boy was too young. It took Jojo a great deal of effort, even with Kael’s help, just to catch a squirrel.
For him to survive this long without the ability to hunt, either he had been captured, or he had been eating whatever he could find to stay alive.
Kael didn’t know which scenario was better. He had told Jojo to avoid humans at all costs because Jojo’s fur was exquisite. Even among beastmen, his fur looked shiny and fluffy, while to humans it would be a priceless treasure.
Kael clenched the deer bone in his hand and crushed it as anxiety ate him from the inside out.
He didn’t know whether Jojo was safe and sound or dying in the hands of a hunter. Nevertheless, he didn’t stop searching. He slept very little, because whenever he did fall asleep, he dreamed of Jojo being captured and murdered by humans.
’Haven’t I told you that searching blindly like a headless chicken won’t give you any results? I’ve said it many times, you need to conquer a pack. You don’t even have to conquer a wolf pack if you don’t want to, but you need subordinates to help you search for your son, or you’ll never find him! Besides, with your strength, you can kill any alpha beastman with ease. Even those tiger beastmen wouldn’t be a match for you now.’
Kael had always ignored that voice, but this time, he actually listened.
It was true. He needed help to find his son. He was alone, and Roc Forest was far too vast for him to search every spot. It might take more than a decade to go through it all.
He needed help, preferably from fellow beastmen who could travel through the forest with ease and protect Jojo once they found him.
So he needed to be more than just an alpha wolf. Wolf beastmen were territorial and not suited to roaming widely, especially if they already had a pack and a family.
He needed to be strong enough to rule over other beastmen species, too.
Unfortunately—or perhaps fortunately—he had that power now.
Kael looked down at his bloodied hand. He had forgotten how many prey and enemies he had killed while hiding with Jojo.
But this was the first time he would kill not for food, not for protecting Jojo, but for power.
He would have to kill those alpha beasts if he wanted to rule over them all.
’That’s right, Kael. Fulfill your destiny as the Dusk Star. Rule over them all with your absolute power. Carve a bloody path and turn Roc Forest into your domain. You and I know this is the only way to find your son. It’s also the only way to protect him.’
The voice was right. Beastmen were different from humans or other creatures. They valued strength above all, and if he wanted Jojo to be safe, he needed absolute control over all beastmen in the forest.
Kael could hear the mocking laughter in his mind. Both of them knew he had fallen into temptation. Perhaps it was desperation to find and protect Jojo, or perhaps Kael had simply been delaying his fate for too long.
He began thinking of what he should do first to claim his rule. He had been a lone wolf for a long time, and though his heart longed to live peacefully with his son, he knew he had to take this step.
As he absently gnawed on the venison, his nose caught the scent of another wolf.
He turned his head, vigilant, and saw a pack of wolves. There were about eight of them, and the one at the front was the biggest one–an alpha wolf..
The alpha wolf looked down on Kael and mocked, "Who are you? How dare you hunt in my territory?"
"Your territory?" Kael asked.
"Yes. I am Jor, the Alpha of SilverTooth Pack," he said proudly. "Where is your pack? Are you a stray? If you want to hunt here, you have to join my pack and become my subordinate. Otherwise, scram!"
